Staying safe from cybercrime

The establishment of two cyber police stations and several cyber police outposts in Assam is a laudable step towards strengthening cybercrime investigation in the state. Police officials and personnel manning these cyber police stations and outposts will need to dynamically update their skills and knowledge on new cybercrime threats to stay one step ahead of the criminals. Data from the National Crime Record Bureau shows that cybercrimes have alarmingly increased in Assam, with the state registering 4846 cases by the end of 2021. The charge sheeting rate in cybercrime cases in the state is too low at 15.9% against the national average of 33.8%, and the pendency of cases is quite high at 62.5% against the national average of 56.4%. The rates can be expected to improve with the establishment of the cyber police stations and outposts. The actual number of crimes could be higher, but awareness among people about taking help from the police against cybercrimes is still quite low, and many cases go unreported or unregistered. Many people are found sharing incidents of cyber fraud, such as duping money from their internet banking accounts, committed against them on their social media networks and seeking assistance from their friends instead of approaching police because of their ignorance about cybercrime investigations by police. By the time they are aware and approach the police to register the case, it is often too late, and cyber criminals have already escaped the cyber police dragnet. As cyber criminals are often based out of a district, a state, or a country, strong coordination among cyber police stations within the state, among the states, and among countries is needed to overcome jurisdictional challenges. Much will depend on the officials investigating cybercrimes being aware of the new modus operandi of cyber criminals and being prompt in seeking cooperation from cyber police stations outside their jurisdiction. The “Crime In India 2021” publication by the NCRB highlights that 52,974 cases were registered under cybercrimes in the country in 2021, showing an increase of 5.9% in registration over 2020 (50,035 cases). During 2021, 60.8% of cybercrime cases registered are attributed to the motive of fraud (32,230 out of 52,974 cases), followed by sexual exploitation with 8.6% (4,555 cases) and extortion with 5.4%. Court disposal rates and pendency in the state being only 2.2 and 94.5% speaks volumes about the gaps in the cybercriminal justice system and about the complexities of convicting criminals without courts being simultaneously equipped to handle cybercrime cases with criminals operating outside of national borders. The issue of jurisdiction in cybercrime cases and the idea of setting up a special court dedicated to cybercrime cases have been gathering momentum across nations. Police and public order being state subjects, states and union territories are primarily responsible for investigating, preventing, and prosecuting crimes, including cybercrimes, but confusion over jurisdictional issues requires the central law enforcement agencies to play a crucial role in ensuring coordinated and quick action against cyber criminals. The establishment of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre by the central government provides a framework and eco-system for law enforcement agencies to deal with cyber crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, and state cyber police authorities utilising its services will be critical in improving cyber crime policing. The Central government has also constituted ‘Joint Cyber Coordination Teams’ for seven regions, including Guwahati, which is an advantage for cyber police stations and outposts in Assam. With the internet and digital technology spreading fast, more and more people are vulnerable to cybercrimes, and for police with limited strength to effectively handle exponentially increasing cybercrime cases, it is next to impossible. The viable solution is strengthening cyber security and building awareness among the public about how to prevent cybercrimes. The Indian Computer Response Team (CERT-In), which has been operational since 2004, has been forecasting and issuing alerts on cyber security incidents and emerging threats, as well as guidelines and advisory documents on the prevention, response, and reporting of cyber incidents. Official data presents new realities about the growth of internet users in India. The country has recorded a 200% increase in rural internet users compared to a 158% increase in urban areas between 2015 and 2021, which no doubt tells a success story of the spectacular growth of digital India. It also reminds us that users fall prey to cybercriminals if they are not made aware of the threats arising from unsafe use of the internet. While institutions like banks and other financial institutions and government agencies keep updating their technologies to prevent cyber attacks, awareness among the general public on the safe use of digital technology needs to be raised to ensure that they remain protected from cybercriminals. Educational institutions, Non-government organisations, local bodies, student and youth bodies, Self-help groups, and women’s organisations can play crucial roles in spreading awareness among the general public.